Quake show comes to Chch

COMING SOON: Frith Horan and Jackie Shaw rehearse for Munted, a theatre show that will premiere in Christchurch tomorrow night.

MUNTED: Victoria Abbott rehearses.

Relevant offers

A new "groundbreaking" theatre show will tell the story of the Canterbury earthquakes through the words of those who experienced it.

Aptly named Munted, the show will open in Christchurch tomorrow night, and the actors warn that its "close-to-home" content could upset some people.

The script, written by Victoria Abbott, was edited from interviews with Christchurch people conducted a month after the February 2011 quake.

Abbott and actors Jackie Shaw and Frith Horan act out the interviews of 15 people on stage during the one-hour show.

"After the quake, Victoria interviewed the residents of Christchurch and their experiences. She turned that into a script and we act out some of their interviews word for word on stage through these characters," Shaw said.

The characters in the show range from a 4-year-old boy to a reporter live on the scene and a family who own a grocery store. Many of the characters have wanted to remain anonymous, while others have revealed their identities.

"These are the thoughts and feelings of real people who lived through the quake," Shaw said.

Munted premiered in Wellington in January.

Shaw was not sure what the reaction to the work would be but was pleased to be performing the show in the city it was written for.

"We're really excited to be able to perform here, but we just don't know what kind of reception it will get,'' Shaw said.

''We are very open to all reactions that people will go through. It might make some people upset.

''It's all about getting people talking about their experiences and what they went through as a community."

There will be a discussion after the show.

Munted will open tomorrow at 7pm at The Theatre, Rangi Ruru Girls' School, Merivale Ln, and will run until Saturday.